Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul will work on the side with the training staff today in practice as he tries to finish the season on a positive note following a shoulder injury.

Pierre-Paul, who has battled back from off-season back surgery, sat out Sunday night’s victory over the Redskins with the injury. The team hasn’t revealed the exact nature of the injury.

It marked the first time in Pierre-Paul's four-year career that he missed a game.

“Anything is encouraging if we can get him out on the field,” coach Tom Coughlin said during his pre-practice news conference on Wednesday morning.

Pierre-Paul, who had never missed a game in his four-year career until Sunday night, played the role of a good soldier in rushing to
return from back surgery for the opener at Dallas. He clearly wasn’t ready. He then played at less than full strength over the next 11 games.

Pierre-Paul, who may have returned too quickly following off-season back surgery, was just rounding back into form when he injured his shoulder. He had been relatively quiet against the Packers until the interception and was totally ineffective against the Cowboys after a week of trash-talking.

This season, the fourth-year pro has 27 tackles, two sacks, six quarterback hurries, four pass breakups and the interception.